أطروحات الدكتوراه (Doctoral Dissertations)

Permanent URI for this community

https://dspace.alquds.edu/handle/20.500.12213/9422

Browse

Browsing أطروحات الدكتوراه (Doctoral Dissertations) by Author "Bashaer “Mohammad Nathmi” Musa Al-Natsheh"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Lived experiences and quality of life among mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder: A mixed-method quasi- experimental Study in the West Bank, Palestine PHD
    (Al-Quds Univeersity, 2026-01-19) Bashaer “Mohammad Nathmi” Musa Al-Natsheh; بشاير "محمد نظمي" موسى النتشة
    Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) presents severe challenges for caregivers, profoundly impacting mothers' quality of life (QoL). While this global impact is established, research on the lived experiences and QoL of mothers in the Palestinian context remains limited. A critical gap also exists in evaluating the effectiveness of support programs designed to improve maternal QoL within this unique sociocultural setting. Aim: This study aimed to: 1) explore the lived experiences of mothers raising children with ASD in the West Bank, Palestine; 2) assess their QoL and associated factors; and 3) evaluate the effectiveness of the 'Mindful Motherhood' support program in improving maternal QoL. Methodology: A mixed-methods design was employed. The qualitative phase used a phenomenological hermeneutic approach, conducting in-depth interviews with mothers of children (aged 4-12) with ASD to interpret their lived experiences. The quantitative phase began with a cross-sectional study (n=119) using the WHOQOL-BREF tool to assess QoL across physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains and identify associated factors. Subsequently, based on initial findings and expert consultation, a 12-week group-based 'Mindful Motherhood' intervention was developed. A quasi-experimental design was employed to evaluate the intervention's effectiveness. Fifty-six mothers were assigned to either the experimental group (n = 28) or the control group (n = 28). QoL was measured at baseline, post-intervention, and at a six-month follow-up. Results: Qualitative analysis identified ten subthemes within the mothers' experiences, synthesized into three core themes: difficult and overwhelming experiences; caregiving challenges and burden; and building resilience. The cross-sectional study indicated a moderate overall QoL (M=2.85). The environmental domain scored lowest, followed by psychological and social domains, while the physical dimension was highest. Significant factors associated with QoL included mother’s age, education, family income, and sleep duration. The intervention study demonstrated significant improvements in all QoL domains for the experimental group compared to controls, with the largest effect sizes in psychological (|δ|= 0.70) and overall QoL (|δ| = 0.68). At the six-month follow-up, overall quality of life gains were largely maintained, though a slight attenuation of benefits was noted, most distinctly in the environmental and social domains. Conclusion: The findings highlight the difficult experiences and moderate QoL of Palestinian mothers of children with ASD, pinpointing environmental and psychological areas of greatest need. The 'Mindful Motherhood' program proved effective in enhancing QoL. The study underscores an urgent need for comprehensive, family-centered healthcare policies and sustainable support systems—including mental health services, socioeconomic aid, and tailored interventions—to improve the QoL of these mothers in Palestine.